Clothes-line



S. SMITH.

(No Model.)

CLOTHES LINE.

Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

14mm ,JZZomam, W

HIS-ATTORNEY 1 WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT" Orrics.

SOLOMON SMITH, OF RAVENNA, OHIO.

CLOTHES-LINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,411, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed August 23, 1890. Serial No. 362,831. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ravenna, in the county of Portage and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful 1mproveinents in Clothes-Lines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to lines for supporting clothes, and has particular relation to the means for supporting said lines.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which Figure l is a view of a line for supporting clothes embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the manner of fastening the traveling stop to the lower portion of the line at the splice of the two ends. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of sheave-wheel-supporting bracket. Fig.4 is an end view of the sheavewheel, which is located at the receiving or inner end of .the line, showing the lockingpin in position by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is an end view of the sheave-wheel at the outer or far end of the line, showing the relation of the traveling stop. Fig. 6 is a front view of the spring-key for securing the sheave-wheel on the bracket. Fig. 7 is a side viewof the looking device at the inner end of the line.

The lines, sh cave-wheels, brackets, and lockin g devices are preferably construct-ed of metal which will not corrode and stain or otherwise injure the clothing. The line C is endless and passes around sheave-wheel B, one at each end thereof. T hose sheave-wheels are similarly constructed and are grooved to receive the line and are mounted on the bolts G, which connect the free ends of the bails A. The sheavewheel B is held between the parallel members a a of the bail A. The bails are inserted through openings or eyes a in the outer ends of the brackets o and are free to swing vertically or laterally to adapt themselves to the line. of strain on the line. The brackets a are provided in pairs and have their shanks threaded, the thread on the shank of one being right hand and the thread on the shank of the other being left hand, thereby permitting the line to be tightened or loosened by screwing the brackets in the same direction either in or out, as required. The sheave-wheel at the receiving or inner end is provided with a series of transverse openings 1), through which a pin f passes to lock the sheave-wheel against rotation, the pin being attached by chain F to the key g, which is the same as the key g, which secures the bolt G to the bail at the outer end of the line, except that its ends are formed into an eye, as shown, to form means of attachment thereto of the chain F.

It will be observed that the pin f when thrust through the coincident openings in the flanges of the inner sheave-wheel extends over the groove in the periphery thereof and across the line. thereby preventing the said sheavewheel from turning to any injurious degree.

The traveling support D is provided to connect the lower portion of the line with the upper portion thereof, thereby preventing sag in the said lower portion and bracing it by connection with the upper portion of the said line. The traveling support comprises sheavewheel (I and wire (1', the latter bent to form a hook at its lower end which receives the lower portion of the line and the upper end passing through the sheave-wheel d and bent down parallel with the verticalportion of the wire.

The traveling stop H is constructed sim i larly to the traveling support D, its lower end being secured to the lower portion of the line in any suitable manner. The removable look I is composed of a wire which has its ends bent to form hooks. The look I must be equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the sheave-wheel at the inner end of the line in order that it may operate successfully. To look the line and the sheave-wheel the hooked ends of the locks are placed over the upper and lower lines and the lock is drawn or pressed toward the said sheave-wheel until it binds the line thereon.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Run the traveling stop H back to the sheavewheel at the receiving or inner end of the line. Then hang the clothes on the line and 1 push the lower portion of the line from you. When the stop II is half-way out, place the traveling support on for the purpose of connecting bothlines and lessening the sag from weightof clothes. Continue to push the lower port-ion of the line from you until the travelingstop strikes the outer sheave-wheel. Then the line will he stopped and the wind will not blow the line farther in that direction or off the sheave-wheel. Then place the lock- 5 pin f through the hole in top of wheel and the I line is permanently locked, or it you desire to use the removable look I when hanging but a few clothes on the line it will lock the line from being blown either way and the l traveling stop will act as the line-support.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A clothes-line comprising the following elements: an endless line, grooved sheavewheels for supporting the ends of the line, right and left hand threaded brackets for the respective sheave-wheels, bails supported in the apertured ends of the brackets and having the said sheave-wheels journaled between their free ends, the sheave-wheel at the receiving or inner end of the line having a series of transverse openings through its rim, a locking-pin connected with the bail and adapted to pass through a set of the series of openings and across the groove therein and over the line, and a traveling stop permanently connected with one portion of the line and adapted to lock the line on the outcrpulley, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with an endless line and grooved sheave-wheels for supporting the line at; its ends, the sheave-wheel at the inner end of the line having a series of openings in its rim, of a locking-pin adapted to be thrust through a set of the openings in the rim of the said wheel and extend across the groove therein and overthe line,substantially as de- 1 scribed, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my sign at ure i n presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON (\Ml'lll. \Yitnesses:

H. L. BEAT'IY, M. A. KING. 

